CIAA AND FRIENDS LITERACY CIRCLE UNVEILS NEW LOOK AND EXPANDS AS YEAR LONG INITIATIVE
New identity marks the next chapter of the CIAA’s commitment to literacy, education and youth engagement
CHARLOTTE, N.C. The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®) today unveiled a new look and logo for the CIAA and Friends Literacy Circle, marking a new chapter for the conference initiative focused on using the power of reading, education, HBCUs and athletics to inspire young people.
Building on the success of literacy programming surrounding the CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament, the CIAA and Friends Literacy Circle is expanding into a year long initiative, creating opportunities for CIAA member institutions, student athletes, educators, community partners and supporters to engage young readers throughout the year.
The expanded initiative will continue the CIAA’s commitment to connecting education and community engagement with the visibility and excitement of collegiate athletics. Through reading challenges, school visits, student athlete engagement, literacy celebrations and additional programming, the Literacy Circle will encourage reading while introducing young people to the educational opportunities represented throughout the CIAA and its member institutions.
“Education has always been at the heart of who we are as a conference, and the CIAA and Friends Literacy Circle gives us another meaningful way to live that commitment,” said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker. “What began as an opportunity to engage young people during our Basketball Tournament has demonstrated the potential to become so much more. By making this a year long initiative, we can build relationships with students and schools, use our student athletes and institutions as examples of what is possible, and continue encouraging young people to discover the power of reading, education and HBCUs. The new look represents growth, but our purpose remains the same: creating opportunities that leave a lasting impact.”
BUILDING ON A CHAMPIONSHIP LITERACY MOMENT
The next chapter of the CIAA and Friends Literacy Circle builds upon the success of its February 26, 2026 celebration at Federal Hill Preparatory School in Baltimore during the CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament.
The CIAA Literacy Challenge reached more than 1,200 students across four Baltimore schools, encouraging students to participate in a citywide reading competition.
For weeks, students competed in a reading challenge, logging books through a digital tracking system using QR codes. At Federal Hill Preparatory School alone, more than 150 students tracked their reading, helping the school emerge as the top school in the competition.
Johnson C. Smith University was front and center during the celebration, with President Valerie Kinloch joining students, educators, student athletes and conference representatives.
“To see the students so excited about having HBCUs come into their school and interact with them, that was powerful,” Kinloch shared. “What stayed with me most was the reminder of the beauty and promise of young people.”
Kinloch, a scholar in the field of education, also recognized the profound power of the literacy initiative and the importance of giving young people agency through reading.
“We have an opportunity and a responsibility to instill in these students not just a love of literacy, but the understanding that they have the right to read, to engage in the world, and to connect with others,” she said.
The event, brought to life through the work of Octavius Rice of Johnson C. Smith University and the CIAA, honored students who participated in the citywide challenge while creating a championship style celebration centered around academic achievement.
“We’re celebrating the CIAA Literacy Challenge, where students collectively read more than 150 books,” Rice said. “We’re recognizing our top 12 winners, and CIAA institutions showed up in a big way, with cheerleaders and representatives from across the conference here to celebrate with our students. It truly became a championship style literacy moment.”
The celebration featured storytime led by CIAA student athletes, including student athletes from Johnson C. Smith University, student leaders and the Luv a Bulls. Together, participants visited 12 classrooms filled with eager young readers and led CIAA themed activities highlighting college pride, literacy and the HBCU experience.
Federal Hill Preparatory School received a literacy trophy and $1,000 in Scholastic Dollars to support school reading programs. Nineteen additional students received medals, certificates, CIAA university apparel and tickets to the CIAA Championship Game.
Federal Hill Preparatory School Principal Sheila Adams celebrated what the recognition meant for her students and families.
“It feels amazing to have our students recognized today as the big winners in the CIAA Literacy Challenge,” Adams said. “We are incredibly proud of them. They showed real commitment by reading more than 150 books, and that took dedication from both students and families.”
FROM A TOURNAMENT MOMENT TO A YEAR LONG COMMITMENT
The success of the Baltimore program demonstrated an opportunity for the CIAA and Friends Literacy Circle to grow beyond tournament week and become a consistent part of the conference’s community engagement efforts.
“The goal is to create a lasting impact in the communities that host the tournament,” Rice said. “We want young people to connect education, reading and college opportunity with the excitement of CIAA.”
With its new identity, the CIAA and Friends Literacy Circle will carry that mission throughout the year, providing additional opportunities for member institutions, schools and community partners to support literacy and educational engagement.
The initiative will also provide opportunities for CIAA student athletes to serve as literacy ambassadors and positive examples for young readers. Their involvement will help reinforce the connection between academic achievement, college opportunity and athletics while giving students an opportunity to see and engage with current college students.
The new CIAA and Friends Literacy Circle logo represents the continued growth of the initiative and its mission to bring together literacy, HBCU pride, athletics and community.
As the Literacy Circle grows, the CIAA will continue developing opportunities for schools, educators, community organizations, alumni, member institutions and corporate partners to participate and help inspire the next generation of readers and leaders.
“This is just the beginning for the CIAA and Friends Literacy Circle,” Rice said.
MEDIA CONTACT
Matisse S. Lee
Senior Associate Commissioner, Communications & Marketing, Special Projects / SWA
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
mlee@theciaa.com
PHOTOS
Photos from the February 26, 2026 CIAA and Friends Literacy Circle celebration at Federal Hill Preparatory School in Baltimore are available for media use.
ABOUT THE CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bluefield State University, Bowie State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University (PA), Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University and Winston Salem State University.
The CIAA Basketball Tournament is one of the nation’s largest and most successful collegiate basketball championships, annually delivering a significant economic impact to its host city while celebrating HBCU culture, education, athletics and community.